serve to live and live to serve: November 2006

JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM 2

December is a wonderful time of the year. Holidays, Christmas, Year end celebrations to look forward to and many wonderful opportunities to catch up with old friends and make or discover new ones. I want to pray that God will use us to make a difference to someone’s life for eternity ? And all it takes may be “just a walk across the room”. That’s the title of Pastor Bill Hybels’ excellent book on personal evangelism (see earlier blog post). It’s all about discerning and following the promptings of the Holy Spirit.

In the past few weeks, we have had many wonderful encounters with the Holy Spirit. This Most Dynamic Personality on Earth is not just for the ministry of healing of our bodies and to deliver us from evil but to also point and bring the lost to salvation. Yes, if we stay alert and tuned in to the Holy Spirit, He will supernaturally lead us across the room to maybe someone waiting for a hand of help, blessing or friendship or to point him or her to Jesus.

This is the exciting work of the Holy Spirit. He walked across the “heavenly room” for you and I that first Christmas day….can we not step out of our comfort zone and take that walk across the room for someone else today ?

JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM

It has been a very refreshing week, as i read -JUST WALK ACROSS THE ROOM by Bill Hybels. The Stories have challenged me, the Strategies have awaken my spirit and the Substance has given me hope. You will not regret, come join me.

"These days, I'm more convinced than ever that the absolute highest value in personal evangelism is staying attuned to and cooperative with the Holy Spirit." - Bill Hybels.

100 WORDS OR LESS

Why are you so fired up about God?

(My story “Before and After”)

“My encounter with Christ was no “drama mama”, it happened many years ago. Before Jesus, I was a very insecure “little” boy, with an inferiority complex that was never good enough for anyone. This affected everything in me, my grades then was a reflection of this state - near the bottom. After Jesus, things begin to change, beyond just the grades but also my attitudes and aspirations. I realized I am valued and life has meaning and purpose. Today, many years later, I can see how this life turning point made all the difference and still makes today.” (97 words)

2 Timothy 4:2 (NIV) “Preach the Word; be prepared in season and out of season; correct, rebuke and encourage—with great patience and careful instruction.”

Take the Challenge – write down in 100 words or less your personal story in a brief, focused and compelling way how your life was like before and after knowing Jesus. I would love to hear from you, send your 100 word or less story to my100wordstory@yahoo.com.sg. Try it.

SERVE TO LIVE AND LIVE TO SERVE

.......... a King, a Savior, a Friend, a Father, a Mother, a Brother, a Sister, a People, a Family, a Community, a Nation, ……..a Cause.

Matthew 20:28 (NIV) "...just as the Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve, and to give his life as a ransom for many.”

What is my choice today?

Matthew 6:24 (NIV) “No one can serve two masters. Either he will hate the one and love the other, or he will be devoted to the one and despise the other. You cannot serve both God and Money.

EYESCREENING

What do you see?
Give some thought to this and how would you complete this line?

We serve a .................... .

"Without a Vision the people perish"

ANTICIPATION - A FRAGRANCE OF LIFE

“Anticipation” is a reflection of the condition of our hearts, a hint of the state of our inner being and a indicator lamp of who we really are. “Anticipation” shows what we value, what we want, what we desire and what we celebrate. My prayer for myself this coming season (which is also the Christmas season) is that I would grow in my “anticipation” of God. There will grow in me an eagerness for God, a fresh anticipation of His love and His hand upon my life. “Anticipation– a Fragrance of Life”….think about this.

2 Corinthians 2:14-16 (NIV) “But thanks be to God, who always leads us in triumphal procession in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of him. For we are to God the aroma of Christ among those who are being saved and those who are perishing. To the one we are the smell of death; to the other, the fragrance of life. And who is equal to such a task? “

THE SECRET PLACE

Ps 91:1 (NKJV)
“He who dwells in the secret place of the Most High. Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty.”

What does it take to dwell in the shelter of the most high?

1. I will REST in HIM and give Him my Trust.
Ps 91:2 (NKJV) “I will say of the Lord, “ He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.””

2. I will CALL on Him and give Him my Hope.
Ps 91:15-16 (NKJV) “He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

3. I will ACKNOWLEDGE Him and give Him my Worship.
Ps 91: 14 (NIV) ““Because he loves me,” says the Lord, “I will rescue him; I will protect him, for he acknowledges my name.”

IN HIS SECRET PLACE THERE IS NO SECRETS.
Mark 4:34 (NIV) “He did not say anything to them without using a parable. But when he was alone with his own disciples, HE EXPLAINED EVERYTHING.”

Let's meet HIM there.......MSN (My Saviour is Near)

WHAT I SEE TODAY?

Psalm 91:1-2 (NKJV)
He a who dwells in the secret place of the Most High Shall abide under the shadow of the Almighty. I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress; My God, in Him I will trust.”

What do I see today?

Had one of those busy and draining day today, began the day with news of death - death in families and challenges that we do not have ready answers to…. But then what do I see?

Seeing is an intentional choice you make - a choice to reflect, a choice to pause, a choice TO SEE and so when I come to the end of a day, Oh Lord, what do I see?

I see GRACE, I see Amazing Grace, the grace of God given to me, the grace of God freely given to me and my family, the grace of God so wonderfully free. Totally undeserved, totally not entitled, totally given…..MY GRACE is sufficient for you, no more no less – sufficient.

I just want to be grateful, I just want to be gracious, I just want to live in restedness but yes…..

ALWAYS RESTLESS FOR THE KINGDOM BUT RESTED IN THE KING.

Psalm 91:14-16 (NKLV)
“Because he has set his love upon Me, therefore I will deliver him; I will 5 set him on high, because he has m known My name. He shall call upon Me, and I will answer him; I will be with him in trouble; I will deliver him and honor him. With long life I will satisfy him, And show him My salvation.”

TODAY IS GOOD NEIGHBOUR DAY

"TRY A LITTLE KINDNESS TODAY - YOU WILL NOT LIVE TO REGRET IT"

Here's wishing one and all a HAPPY GOOD NEIGHBOUR DAY, let's spread the message and pass the word.....TO FIND A GOOD NEIGHBOUR - BE ONE.